CVE-2022-49264
📋 TL;DR
This Linux kernel vulnerability allows privilege escalation when execve() is called with an empty argv (argument vector). It affects Linux systems where programs or kernel threads execute processes with NULL argv, potentially enabling attackers to exploit similar techniques to CVE-2021-4034 (PwnKit).
💻 Affected Systems
- Linux Kernel
📦 What is this software?
Linux Kernel by Linux
The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...
Learn more about Linux Kernel →Linux Kernel by Linux
The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...
Learn more about Linux Kernel →Linux Kernel by Linux
The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...
Learn more about Linux Kernel →Linux Kernel by Linux
The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...
Learn more about Linux Kernel →Linux Kernel by Linux
The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...
Learn more about Linux Kernel →Linux Kernel by Linux
The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...
Learn more about Linux Kernel →Linux Kernel by Linux
The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...
Learn more about Linux Kernel →Linux Kernel by Linux
The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...
Learn more about Linux Kernel →⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Privilege escalation to root via exploitation similar to CVE-2021-4034, allowing full system compromise.
Likely Case
Local privilege escalation in specific configurations where programs call execve with NULL argv, though such programs are relatively rare.
If Mitigated
Minimal impact as the kernel now forces a single empty string when argc=0, preventing exploitation while maintaining compatibility.
🎯 Exploit Status
While no public PoC exists for this specific CVE, the description references CVE-2021-4034 (PwnKit) which demonstrated practical exploitation of similar argv handling issues. The vulnerability was discovered through security research following that precedent.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Kernel versions containing commits 1290eb4412aa0f0e9f3434b406dc8e255da85f9e or later
Vendor Advisory: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1290eb4412aa0f0e9f3434b406dc8e255da85f9e
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Update Linux kernel to patched version from your distribution vendor. 2. For Red Hat/CentOS: yum update kernel. 3. For Ubuntu/Debian: apt update && apt upgrade linux-image. 4. For SUSE: zypper update kernel. 5. Reboot system to load new kernel.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
No effective workaround
linuxThis is a kernel-level vulnerability requiring patching. No user-space workarounds can effectively mitigate the issue.
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Restrict shell access to trusted users only
- Implement strict privilege separation and use minimal privilege accounts for applications
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check kernel version: uname -r and compare with your distribution's security advisories. Vulnerable if before patched versions.Check Version:
uname -rVerify Fix Applied:
After patching and reboot, verify kernel version with uname -r matches patched version from vendor advisory.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Kernel warnings about NULL argv usage
- Audit logs showing execve calls with unusual parameters
Network Indicators:
- None - this is a local privilege escalation vulnerability
SIEM Query:
process.name="execve" AND process.args="NULL" OR process.argc="0"🔗 References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1290eb4412aa0f0e9f3434b406dc8e255da85f9e
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1fe82bfd9e4ce93399d815ca458b58505191c3e8
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/27a6f495b63a1804cc71be45911065db7757a98c
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/41f6ea5b9aaa28b740d47ffe995a5013211fdbb0
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/98e0c7c702894987732776736c99b85ade6fba45
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a8054d3fa5deb84b215d6be1b910a978f3cb840d
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b50fb8dbc8b81aaa126387de428f4c42a7c72a73
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/cfbfff8ce5e3d674947581f1eb9af0a1b1807950
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/dcd46d897adb70d63e025f175a00a89797d31a43
